Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson accused of dirty tricks... but only with his quizzes

07 December 2010 01:34

The Manchester United manager's quizzes are legendary at Old Trafford and are often incorporated into a European away trip to while away an hour or so, even if they usually involve some controversy.

Now television viewers are set to discover how competitive the quiz battles can be.

Way back when: Sir Alex Ferguson speaks with Andy Cole back in 1999

On Thursday, a current players team - captained by Ryan Giggs - will take on a former players side led by Nicky Butt. The winners get the chance to tackle a Ferguson side, although Cole is not convinced anyone will get the better of United's legendary manager.

'The manager's quizzes are quite famous, especially on European trips or in pre-season,' said Cole, who along with Denis Irwin completed the three-man past players line-up.

He likes to win: United boss Sir Alex Ferguson

'He kept us all back from going to our rooms. And usually, he won.

'The thing was, the gaffer usually came up with the questions - or got someone to - then he had all the answers.

'Then he had this amazing way of managing to get the points from a question when the other team were conferring.

'The manager is used to winning - and it was not any different with a quiz.

'He was the final arbiter and when we lost, we always came outgutted because we knew the manager would have fiddled things in someway to make sure he won.'

As the first quiz was recorded lastweek, Cole is banned from revealing who won. He did however confirmButt to be 'a bandit' and Gary Neville, who along with Michael Carrick,was on Giggs' team, 'nipped in a few times' to beat Cole to answers.

By his own admission though, the former England forward's general sports knowledge is not as extensive as it might be.

'I played football. I enjoyed it and I still love it now,' he said. 'But it is not as if I have my head into it every day. If that was the case I would still want to play so I switch off to some extent.

'If you don't switch off when you are retired, it would drive you crazy.'

The Big Utd Quiz will air on MUTV on 9th December at 9pm.

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